Tow-line connector.



G. W, ST1/HTH.

1IOW UNE CONNECTOR.

As'PucAmN FMD )UNE 20.1916.

Nr wn W Patented Aprgl() @HJW SMM GUY WINDOW SMITH, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

'row-'Linn CONNECTOR.

Application filed June 20, 1916.

To all ral1/tom t may concern.

Be it known that I, GUY W. SMITH, a citi` zen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in rFew-Line Connectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tow line connectors and has particular application to a shock absorbing connector.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide a tow line connector which will be found especially useful in connection with the tow lines of motor` vehicles, boats, etc., and whereby the shock or jar incident to the initial tightening of the tow line under the action of the towing vehicle will be eliminated, thereby reducing the strain on the line and .absorbing the shock which would be otherwise transmitted to the vehicles.

It is also my purpose to provide a device of the class described which may be readily and conveniently carried in the vehicle when the same is not in use and which will embody comparatively few parts and these so arranged and correlated as to reduce the possibility of derangement to a minimum.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l .is la View in side elevation of a tow line connector constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough showing the parts in normal position.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts in towing position.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, 1, designates a cylinder, while 2, 2 indicate caps threaded onto the ends of the cylinder and closing the latter. Formed in one of thecaps 2 is an opening 3 and arranged within the cylinder l concentrically thereof is a relatively small cylinder 4 having one end projecting through the opening 3 and the other end alining axially with .a relatively small opening 5 in the other cap 2. Arranged within the relatively small cylinder 4 is a draw rod 6 having one end proj ecting through the relatively small opening Specification of 'Letters Iatent.

4lPatented Jdpr. i0, 119117. serial No. 104,771.

5 and formed with `an eye 7, and the other end equipped with a nut 8 disposed adjacent to the projecting end of the cylinder 4. Threaded into the projecting end of the cylinder 4 is the'shank of a hook 9. Encircling the cylinder 4 and disposed within the cylinder l is a coiled expansion spring l0 having one end abutting a collar l1 threaded onto the inner end of the cylinder 4 and the other end in engagement with the cap through which the cylinder 4 projects, while surrounding the draw rod 6 and disposed within the relatively small cylinder is a coiled expansion spring 12 having one end abutting a nut 8 and the other end in engagement with the cap 2 through which the draw rod passes. This spring l2 is preferably of less strength than the spring l0.

In practice, one end of the tow line is fastened in the eye 7, while the hook 9 may be engaged with either the leading vehicle or the towed vehicle. Upon the initial pull of the leading vehicle, the draw rod 6 moves outwardly through the opening 5 and compresses the spring l2 and as soon as the spring' l2 has been compressed the cylinder 4 moves outwardly through the opening 3 against the action of the spring 10. Thus, the strain on the cable incident to the initial tightening thereof is reduced and the transmission of shock or jar to the vehicles eliminated.

While I have herein shown and described the preferred form of my invention by way of illustration, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit or confine myself to the precise details of construction herein described and delineated, as modification and variation may be made within the scope of ,the claim and without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

A tow line connector comprising a cylinder, caps closing the ends of said cylinder, a relatively small cylinder within the firstmentioned cylinder and having one end projecting through one of said caps, a draw rod in the last-mentioned cylinder and having one end thereof projecting through the other cap, a coiled expansion spring within the rst-mentioned cylinder surrounding said relatively small cylinder and having one end abutting the cap through which the said small cylinder projects, a collar on the inner end of said small cylinder engaging liti the other end of said cylinder, a second to the outer end oi" sid relatively1 Small spring surrounding said draw rod and h a-vcylinder. 10 ing one end in engagement with the cap In Witness whereof I a-x my signature through which the draw rod projects, `a, nut in presence of two Witnesses.

on the inner end of said draw rod engaging GUY WINDOW SMITH. the remaining end of said second-named Vitnesses:

spring, the outer end of said draw rod being P. WILBERT,

formed with an eye, and a hook connected A. W. BEAM.

Copies o! this patent may be obtained for nve cents eac'h, by addrcssing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C." 

